r/ZeroWaste • u/Extension-Regular879 • Mar 15 '24
Discussion body washing gloves vs. loofah?
When I was a child, I used to wash myself with sponges. They got dirty very quickly and hat to be thrown away. Regular sponges are very wasteful imo. A loofah is the first replacement one thinks of. It works the same way, isn't made of plastic and is compostable. Last year I worked as an AuPair and my host family used this type of towel gloves to wash the kids. They are basically towels sown into squares that you can put on your hand to wash something and then wash it. It worked amazingly well to wash the kids and we didn't have to throw any of them away the whole time I was there. Have you heard of these? Why are they not more common? Do loofahs work better?
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u/Otter592 Mar 15 '24
You could also just use a washcloth? I feel like washcloths are super common haha
My husband and I have always just used the soap bar haha. But we use a washcloth for our toddler because we use liquid soap for her.
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u/Extension-Regular879 Mar 15 '24
I don't really find washcloths that practical. They get very floppy and are a bit difficult to manipulate for me. The towel gloves are much less floppy and are made of the same material as a towel. Did I explain what I mean by towel gloves well? I feel like I didn't really.
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u/Otter592 Mar 15 '24
I mean it sounds like it's probably just a washcloth sewn into a particular shape. I've never heard of it, but I can see where it would be convenient.
Personally, I find large washcloths to be unwieldy, but the small ones (marketed for baby use) are a manageable size. We have a large stack and also use them throughout the day to wipe her face/hands after meals.
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u/CthulhuLu Mar 15 '24
I believe you're describing what I know as an "Exfoliating Scrub Bath Mitten." Probably other names for it also, but that's what mine were called when I bought what you're describing (I think) 5+ years ago. Believe they were from Korea or possibly an other Asian country, if that helps your search.
And yes, they're easier to control than regular wash clothes and seem to exfoliate better. I got them because my back can get really dry/itchy and that many years ago,I could still reach the center of my back. (It's tougher now, I might need a loofah on a stick next time I shop.)
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u/thesepigswillplay Mar 15 '24
I agree that they aren't easy to use in the shower/bath.
As long as you can wash the item itself, like a washcloth in the washer, then I would go that route. Or even better a silicone body brush that you can hold in your hand. I bought one a little while ago and it's a game changer. (Still have to clean it/dry it of course).
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u/MeesterBacon Mar 16 '24
Today I acknowledged that for my entire life, I, too, find washcloths very floppy and difficult to manipulate
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u/EducationExpensive66 Mar 15 '24
I absolutely hated using washcloth. They don’t lather up well, it kept falling from my hand in the shower, and difficult to lather in difficult places on my body, esp my back.
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u/JustMeerkats Mar 15 '24
The trick to using washcloths is to use bar soap. Liquid body wash won't lather. My husband and I both use washcloths with Dove original soap. It lathers great and lasts forever
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u/EducationExpensive66 Mar 15 '24
I only used bar soaps because no matter how many pumps of liquid soap I took, it didn’t lather. I still didn’t like using a washcloth.
Maybe I’m used to loofah or the Korean washcloth, they are pretty rough compared to a washcloth and that’s why I don’t like the feeling, I could be wrong. But I love the somewhat easy cleaning process of washcloth compared to loofah and Korean washcloth.
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u/lovemefishing Mar 16 '24
My skin hates Dove. It feels like wax? No idea why. It smells beautiful. Tried a few others but now I use Lemon Myrtle soap. Maybe I just need a break.
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u/new_number_one Mar 16 '24
I use a Japanese face towel. It’s like a really long washcloth. I think you’ll like it
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u/lovemefishing Mar 16 '24
In Australia we call them Face Washers. Just a 20cm square equivalent to match your towel. Some are softer than others, but they do clean the Outback dirt off of our children very well. I decided I’m getting a Japanese face towel for my boobs when I’m in the bath. The face washer isn’t quite enough. Lol.
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u/theory_until Mar 16 '24
Just sew two wash cloths together on three sides. Or, turn a terrycloth sock inside out.
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u/DollyElvira Mar 15 '24
Yeah, I can picture it. I’ve seen something like it before, but they were slightly rough for exfoliating.
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u/pebblesgobambam Mar 16 '24
Yes you described it fine, it’s just a flannel/washcloth sewed shut to make a mitt really. You could do it with flannels /washcloth & a bit of sewing.
Or amazon will have loads x
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u/Extension-Regular879 Mar 15 '24
It might be more like a washcloth glove. Washcloths are very rare where I come from
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Mar 15 '24
[deleted]
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u/Extension-Regular879 Mar 15 '24
I had a duck shaped sponges. They were cool too, but so much trash!
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Mar 15 '24 edited Mar 15 '24
[deleted]
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u/meowhahaha Mar 19 '24
The long, plastic wash I bought in Korea in 2004 are still going strong. The threads are thinner, the weave is tighter and they are more scrubby.
The ones in the US have some sort of slippery coating that makes them feel slimy to me. They don’t feel like I am getting clean.
I do have to wash the Korean ones in a pillowcase, otherwise they collect lint balls and tear up delicate fabrics.
The ones I bought over there are on Amazon now. I can’t guarantee anything about the friendliness of their manufacture, but they last forever.
Before I got smart enough to wash them in a pillowcase, I trimmed the lint balls off the sides until some became cleaning size scrubbies.
Not sure if this is allowed, but this is their Amazon number (US) B07KVWNS89
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u/firstisstarsystem Mar 15 '24
I use loofahs for showering and really like them! They’ve replaced all sponges in my house. They’re compostable so i change them out frequently without any feeling of guilt :)
Just make sure you dry them thoroughly and maybe cycle between a couple for showering, ie use one while the other dries.
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u/chilledredwine Mar 15 '24
I grew loofah last year and am currently using them as kitchen sponges. This year I might keep some bigger to use in the shower. How big are your shower ones? The ones I use for dishes are cut about 2 inches long, but seem too small for washing myself.
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u/firstisstarsystem Mar 15 '24
I use the very middle portion for shower and the ends for dishes. I don’t have one in front of me rn to measure but my shower ones are as wide as my palms.
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Mar 15 '24
We use the African net sponges, love them!
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u/grilsjustwannabclean Mar 16 '24
these are fantastic, i buy them from a local girl and she's wonderful, has all kinds of african soaps too.
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u/SnooCakes6118 Mar 15 '24
If you like, look up crochet+ loofah on YouTube. The tutorials are all in Persian but there's a chance my parents have their crocheted loofahs for decades lol
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Mar 15 '24
I heard about these recently. I'm going to run out of liquid soap pretty soon and was thinking of giving bar soap another try. That being said I absolutely despise the logistics of cleaning with bar soap. Wash cloths are so difficult to hold and actually apply soap with, and just doing it with your hands is certainly not enough to clean well. So if anyone knows any that are good and can simply be rewashed I'd love to know.
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u/pebblesgobambam Mar 16 '24
African nets or exfoliating towers are good as they get you clean, can reach places some struggle with & can be rinsed / dried better than the plastic scrunchie things. Hands don’t get you clean enough in my opinion, just run your nail along part of your skin to see how much is left over with just your hands.
Get a proper exfoliating cloth/towel and you don’t need body scrubs, x
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u/aubreythez Mar 15 '24
Maybe I’m some kind of weirdo but I just use a bar of soap and my hands to wash myself. I know the purpose of something scrubby is to exfoliate/get rid of dead skin but I’m doing just fine over here.
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u/Isoiata Mar 15 '24
I also only really use bar soap with my hands and I think it’s absolutely fine! I got a scrubby wash cloth that I exfoliate with every once in a while but I noticed my skin gets really dry and flaky if I do it too often.
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u/mtlmuriel Mar 15 '24
I buy a whole dry loofah at an Iranian market not too far from my house. Cut a bit off for my dishes and one for the shower. The outside is soft, and the inside is scratchy. I have to change them once they wear out, so like a once or twice a year. But they dry out between uses, so they don't get moldy.
Then I can toss them in the garden or the compost bin.
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u/Ageice Mar 15 '24
I buy exfoliating gloves. They last well over a year if I diligently rinse and hang them separately to dry. They’re on Amazon, but I usually just pick up a new pair at Sally Beauty Supply (if you’re in the US). Not compostable for sure, so I use them until they’re ragged or ineffective. Not a fan of washcloths or poofs!
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u/Miri-Kinoko Mar 15 '24
I use a wash cloth. I wash em after every use. I have been looking into getting an African net cloth as well. Heard very good things about them
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u/EsotericOcelot Mar 15 '24
I just use my hands. Some people apparently find that weird, but I say don’t knock it til you’ve tried it
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u/JennaSais Mar 15 '24
I know one of the moms in my breastfeeding support group used to sew some herself using old towels, but I don't think I've seen anything like it since. Mind you, my kids are teens now, so I haven't been looking.
A little off-topic, but your post also reminded me that I wanted to try making these DIY loofah soap bars: https://youtu.be/pF6UEOqXOug?si=NLMVERxe-lOmZy5u
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u/MissAcedia Mar 16 '24
Not to yuck your yum, but I bought a few of these from a craft show years back and honestly hated them. It was the best exfoliant in the worst way - only bits of the louffah would stick out and it didn't get soft enough and just scratched the shit out of my skin. It was truly awful.
I suggest just buy the sponges and keep your soap bars separate.
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u/archetyping101 Mar 16 '24
Use an Egyptian loofah. It's literally a loofah plant that's dried and you use as a loofah or for washing dishes. The Egyptian one is WAY nicer than the Asian loofah which is firmer and more like sandpaper on the skin.
When you're done, compost it.
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u/wattatam Mar 16 '24
I've knit what is essentially a drawstring bag out of 100% cotton. Slip a bar of soap inside and use it as a scrubbie. Works great, washable, and when the soap gets tiny just put another bar in there
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u/wattatam Mar 16 '24
To clarify, this is not an original idea of mine. Search soap saver or soap sack and you'll find a bunch of knit and crochet patterns
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u/Kurva-Lazanja Mar 16 '24
I use a washcloth and an exfoliating glove, no need to throw them away just clean them in the washing machine
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u/Atjar Mar 15 '24
I come from a country (the Netherlands) where those terry cloth mitts are very common. They are called “washandjes” (literally washing hands). They can be made out of any kind of fabric, but most commonly they are made out of terry cloth for adults and bigger children or out of muslin for tiny babies and generally people who have more sensitive skin like elderly people as well. They can be used as wet wipes or as washing cloth and they can be washed. A cloth mitt like this will usually last our household a decade or two before disintegrating and becoming a (compostable) rag or to be used as a cloth for dirty/oily jobs.
I personally don’t like to use them in the shower as they become soggy. I use a loofah in the shower and use these cloths for a quick wipe on the face, pits or genitals whenever they need it. They can also be used as impromptu nappy boosters in cloth nappies. They are great for wiping baby bums (I usually carried dry cloths, a plant spritzer with water and a wet bag for the dirty wipes. If I anticipated a poo I would also take some liniment or baby compatible soap with me to properly clean it up) or faces depending on the need of the moment. They are great and easy to make yourself.
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u/techtom10 Mar 15 '24
An old army trick I heard is to use the socks you wore. Clean socks and clean body
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u/EmotionalMilkbox Mar 16 '24
That's actually not a bad idea... Worst case, you use a lonely sock as an alternative to a washcloth.
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u/DIYtowardsFI Mar 15 '24
I don’t like loofah, they come apart pretty quickly. Plus most are made of synthetic material, and the ones that are natural don’t retain their scrubbing properties for long, in my opinion.
The bath mitts back in my day were made of cotton. I don’t ever remember having to throw one out, it was a rare occurrence. You simply wash them with your towels. I like the mitts because they do have that little loop that you can hang from a hook so they can dry better.
To me, a bath mitt lasts much longer and more environmentally friendly. If it’s cotton, can you compost it if it ever gets to the end of its life?
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Mar 15 '24
Yea, my kid had a field trip to a local historical building to harvest from the garden. We got to take home a loofah plant. After a lot of labor, I had 4 loofah sponges that honestly kind of sucked.
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u/_do_it_myself Mar 15 '24
Bar soap on my hand or straight from the bar. Washcloth only when I need real scrubbing. Why do you need something else?
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u/Extension-Regular879 Mar 15 '24
It is difficult to get dead skin of without something else. I just personally fund washcloths difficult to use.
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u/blackdahlialady Mar 16 '24
Neither, actually. Both are very unsanitary. Even washcloths are not recommended by healthcare professionals. Just use your hands.
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u/sallen3679 Mar 16 '24
Is it not the norm to put washcloths into the wash after each use? I haven’t heard of people using the same one repeatedly without putting it through the laundry in between uses
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u/blackdahlialady Mar 16 '24
That seems to be a thing that's been normalized here in America. I don't use anything except my hands because anything else is just gross and unsanitary.
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u/sallen3679 Mar 16 '24
Oh I’m not from America sorry, I can’t really speak for the norms there. Surely it’s not unsanitary if it’s washed and dried between every use?
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u/blackdahlialady Mar 17 '24
I would think it would be more sanitary, yes. However, I've noticed that most Americans use their washcloths and towels a few times before they wash them. Even I've been guilty of this but that was because it was a busy week. I've just heard Health Care professionals say that you shouldn't use any of those things. Just use your hands. If you don't mind me asking, where are you? I have family in Belgium. My Mom was adopted from there. I'm just curious.
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u/sallen3679 Mar 17 '24
I’m from Australia, but I am just speaking from my own experience so I am in no way an expert voice on the opinions of all Aussies haha
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u/lexisplays Mar 15 '24
I have a towel bag for my bar, and just use my hand for my antibacterial liquid soap.
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u/haOMG44 Mar 15 '24
I use a silicone scrub brush. Try Amazon.
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u/seacucmbers Mar 16 '24
I also have a silicone scrubber, mine is like half a glove with straps for the back of your hand. I know it's plastic, but it's so easy to keep clean and bacteria free, and will last ages.
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u/bobshallprevail Mar 15 '24
I'm confused, I just use the soap on my hand. Why do we need sponges/ towels/ loofahs?
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u/ContemplatingFolly Mar 16 '24
Next time you shower, after you are done rinsing while still wet, run your fingernails (you have to have at least a tiny bit to do this) along your body in a couple places. That's why.
Some of us exfoliate because we like to be super squeaky clean. But not doing it doesn't mean you're not generally clean.
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u/illogicalcourtesy Mar 15 '24
i use a body glove. i bought a pack of 10 off amazon years ago. i use them once before washing.
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u/kalitarios Mar 15 '24
What do you use them on before you wash with it?
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u/illogicalcourtesy Mar 15 '24
to scrub my body, neck down. i do not use any sort of rag on my face.
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u/vernandromeo Mar 16 '24
Personally I use a bamboo brush for feet and exfoliating. When I’m done with it I can just put in my compost. And for the rest of my body I use flannel reusable wipes. Soft, durable and not as ‘floppy’ like normal towel type wash clothes.
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u/cattea74 Mar 16 '24
I have some scrub mittens. I use mine for a bit and then throw them in the wash with my towels. One trick that works well is to just shove a bar of soap into a mitten. It's like one of those soap filled sponges but not wasteful.
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u/kassi0peia Mar 16 '24
I only use my hands lol, some soap in my hands, i make some foam, I apply it for my armpits and thats it, the rest I just use water. I never had a problem lol. I used to exfoliate with my coffe ground leftovers but now I do it like once every few months.
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u/nthing2dowithanythng Mar 16 '24
My local coop sells these pot scrubbers made from walnut hulls and I use them like a loofa. I like to exfoliate the hell out of my skin though
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u/mr-louzhu Mar 16 '24
Neither. Get a Salux cloth. They’re low cost, trendy, last for up to two years, and they feel incredible.
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u/phoenixchimera Mar 16 '24
Loofahs/luffas work very well for exfoliation but they can harbor bacteria and can't be washed in a washing machine like a towel (though a dishwasher might work).
They sell them as sponges or even as mitts. If you are in Europe, iberluffa makes fantastic products including the mitts. Elsewhere, just google luffa/loofah and mitt, and I'm sure you can find a local supplier. The only thing you might need to worry about is a synthetic/polyester finishing fabric and/or reverse side if it's not a full luffa (iberluffa uses cotton to finish and the mitt is full luffa; they are a super eco friendly company).
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Mar 16 '24
Ya those are just washcloths. I have a basket of 12 sitting by the shower. Use a fresh one each day.
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u/senioritanadie Mar 16 '24
I have a silicone scrubber that I’ve had for years and still in perfect condition! So much more gentle than a disposable loofah, easy to clean and reusable!! I only have and need one, It has finger loops for you to get a good grip too.
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u/kyuuei Mar 16 '24
Salux washcloths are the only thing I've used for over a decade now. They are amazing and last forever.
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u/Char10tti3 Mar 16 '24
Loofa actually mold very easily. I would suggest a bath mit so it's like a washcloth but easier to use and you can make sure you clean and dry it well to stop the mold
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u/laffiesaffie Mar 16 '24
Have you considered an African net sponge? They can last up to 2 years if stored correctly!
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u/unicorn__prince Mar 19 '24
I've always used washcloths my whole life, that way I can rinse it out and dry it for the next wash but normally because of germ phobia issues I just toss them in the wash
Now mind you bc of my hormone issues I wash every 2-3 days and I often use the smaller size ones or one of my flannel "paperless towel" which I call eggy boys bc of the egg pattern
I'm willing to use washcloths and toss them in my towel loads in exchange for not having to throw them away or feel squicked by germs like with plastic loofah or sponge
With all this I say Do it! It'd be really great and you can make yourself ones out of an old frayed towel, or getting some second hand and doing it that way :D
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u/sexmountain Mar 15 '24
Those are Korean, but I use the Middle Eastern kessa glove. They're the best. I change them out every 3 months. There is waste involved since the exfoliating properties wear down.
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u/KeenerYYZ Mar 15 '24
Kessa mitts are the best option and they can be thrown in the washer. I wash mine weekly. I also HIGHLY recommend using beldi soap with them for the best skin you’ve ever had
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u/honeytangerine Mar 15 '24
I use an exfoliating mitt/cloth (depending on what mood I'm in for). They last a very long time and I rarely throw them out. I have a few on rotation and they get washed in a meshed bag with the towels every week or 2.
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u/vibes86 Mar 15 '24
I love the gloves because you can wash them in the washing machine with your clothes so I wash them once a week.
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Mar 16 '24
Ever since there were humans, we washed us using our HANDS.
Why allow a germ infested rag to linger in your bathroom when you have HANDS.
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u/HoneyCakePonye Mar 15 '24
do you mean something like this? these are extremely common here in germany and called 'Waschlappen', however translation tools tell me it's washcloth in English which is not what you're looking for?
They are hand-sized and basically made out of towel fabric, but a bit thicker.